"Helena, you will remember that I asked you if you could marry an officer who for disobedience to his General—and that General your father—had been court-martialled and perhaps degraded?"
In a scarcely audible voice Helena answered, "Yes."
"Then tell Colonel Lord what course you will take if by his own deliberate act that misfortune should befall him."
A hot blush mounted to Helena's cheeks, and looking at the hem of her handkerchief she said—
"Gordon knows already what I would say, father. There is no need to tell him."
Then the General turned back to Gordon. "You hear?" he said. "I presume you understand Helena's answer. For the sake of our mutual peace and happiness I wished to give you one more chance. The issue is now plain. Either you obey your General's order or you renounce all hope of his daughter—which is it to be?"
The young man swallowed his anger and answered—
"Is it fair, sir—fair to Helena, I mean—to put her to a test like that—either violent separation from her father or from me? But as you have spoken to Helena I ask you to allow me to do so also."
"No, I forbid it!" said the General.
"Don't be afraid, sir. I'm not going to appeal over your head to any love for me in Helena's heart. That must speak for itself now—if it's to speak at all. But"—his voice was so soft and low that it could hardly be heard—"I wish to ask her a question. Helena——"